A hidden link identifies bots that ignore robots.txt

Blackhole Pro adds a trigger link to WordPress pages that human visitors do not see. Rules in an actual robots.txt file tell bots not to follow it. A bot that follows the link can be blocked after the configured number of allowed hits. The theme must call wp_footer() for the link to appear. The add-on does not use or require .htaccess rules.

Major search engines and other useful bots are allowed by default through the user-agent whitelist. You can personalize the whitelist in the options.

Bot rules control blocking and responses

Set the allowed-hit threshold or disable the plugin for logged-in visitors. Block or allow bots by user agent or IP address, then choose how blocked bots are handled.

• Send custom email alerts or show a custom message.
• Redirect blocked bots, set a custom HTTP status code, or use a custom trigger link.
• Redirect whitelisted bots when needed.

The Bad Bot Log supports paging, sorting, and field search. You can add bots manually, review blocked-hit counts, and look up Geo/IP information for individual entries.

Logging and settings keep bot handling manageable

Blackhole Pro stores the IP address, user agent, and other request data for trapped bots in the WordPress database. Delete saved data in the settings. You can also reset the bot list, delete individual entries, and restore the plugin’s default settings with one click. The settings screen includes a Help tab with inline documentation.

Set up the trap in WordPress

1. Install and activate Blackhole Pro.
2. Open the settings and review the whitelist, threshold, alert, response, and logging settings.
3. Add the required rules to an actual robots.txt file. Blackhole Pro does not create the file or add its rules for you.
4. Adjust blocking, allowing, and response behavior for your site.

Important: Do not use Blackhole Pro on a site with caching. Review the Help tab before enabling the trap.